One year after the death drama in Munich's Südbad: the judiciary is still investigating - that's the status

Created: 08/12/2022, 06:45

By Phillip Plesch

The tragedy happened in the outdoor pool of the Südbad.

© Archive image: Marcus sleep

A year ago, a boy died after falling into the outdoor pool at Südbad.

There is still nagging uncertainty as to whether the drama could have been prevented.

It's been exactly one year to the day: Two four-year-old twin brothers were lying unconscious in the water in the outdoor pool of the Südbad.

Bathers and lifeguards pull the two ashore and provide first aid.

A few days later, one of the two boys died in hospital, the other survived.

The judiciary is still dealing with how the drama came about.

"The death investigation is still pending, the investigations have not yet been completed," said Juliane Grotz, deputy press spokeswoman for the Munich I public prosecutor's office, when asked by tz.

This is a special pre-examination procedure.

Did someone do wrong?

Could the boy's death have been prevented?

The investigation will probably continue for a few weeks.

Munich: Stadtwerke have filled all jobs

Stadtwerke München (SWM), as the operator of the pool, works closely with the authorities.

To ensure that this tragedy is not repeated, SWM has re-examined its supervisory concept in all pools.

The SWM are currently examining the use of a video system in the pool supervision in the southern pool (tz reported).

"We welcome every opportunity to reduce the risk of drowning accidents," says Stadtwerke.

In addition, SWM assures that a lack of personnel plays no role in such accidents.

"All positions at the Munich swimming pools are currently occupied." And the following applies at all times: If the prescribed supervisory service in the pool operation could not be fulfilled due to short-term staff absences - for example due to illness - this would immediately result in a (partial) closure of the pool.

"There will be no bathing operations if the required number of staff in pool supervision cannot be met."